Question

Define an elementary event.

Answer 1

What are the meanings of elementary event?

The word elementary means simple, non decomposable into elements or other primary constituents and the word event means something that result.

Definition:

An elementary event is any single outcome of a trial. Elementary events are also called simple events.

To illustrate the definition, let us take examples:

1. In the experiment of tossing a coin, the possible outcomes H and T. Any one outcome like H is called an elementary event.

2. In the experiment of rolling a dice, the possible outcomes are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Any one outcome like 4 is called an elementary event.

Note that H stands for getting a head and T stands for getting a tail in the experiment of tossing a coin.